Lots of useless information racing around in my head

My husband says my mind is like a computer screen that battles to stay on task or topic due to numerous pop-ups. Its funny how I can be talking to him about something and instantly, without missing a beat, I am on to something else that just "popped up" in my head. Then I get mad and think he's an idiot because he can't follow along. Its not easy being me.
My husband also says I'm PMSing. (Is that a verb??) I really didn't think I had a problem with such things but, you know, I'm pretty sure he's on to something. These last few days I have been ON EDGE. It seems like my kids voices are akin to fingernails on a chalkboard and they are amplified times 4. I am snippy and sullen and VERY tired. Also, I can't seem to eat enough. If I told you what I had eaten before noon today it would shock you. It seems like I can't possibly get full today. Ladies, what is your verdict...PMS or just being mean?
Also, I was thinking about toilet paper today. I just came from Target and noticed my old brand was on sale. I used to buy Cottenelle 12 double rolls. Its usual price is $7.69. WHAT A RIP OFF! It's paper for heaven's sake. What kind of a mark up is that??? Anyway, my husband convinced me to try the Target Premium toilet paper, again 12 double rolls which is regularly priced $6.29. I was pretty sure it would be like sand paper and would certainly irritate our dainty behinds but it is excellent and I will save $1.50 every time I purchase TP for my family.
Speaking of family, 13 years ago tonight my hubby and I were at our friends home. It was a Sunday afternoon/evening and we were watching a football play off game I believe between the Packers and Bears but I digress. I was VERY pregnant with child #3. We left our friends home around 7:30 that night. By 9 pm I arrived at the hospital, which fortunately, was about 2 blocks away, and just 35 minutes later I had a baby. What a hoot! We called our friends about 10:20 that night and said, "Hey, guess what I just did?"
The first thing the nurse said after he was born was the usual, "Its a boy." The second thing was, "He's got dimples." He was a little spitfire but smart as a whip.
He didn't sleep all night until he was nearly a year old. I remember many, many nights I would just sit on the couch sobbing out of sheer exhaustion. I was SO tired. He was our 3rd child in just 4 1/2 years. At 18 months he already had the motor skills to work a mouse with ease. I remember one day we were stopped at an intersection and he said, "Look Momma, "No right turn on red." I was stunned that he was reading at 3 1/2. Now he's the king of computer games etc. and an absolute blessing to our family.
So we will venture out tonight to his favorite restaurant to celebrate him and remind him of how thankful we are for him.

What to say, What to say......

I feel a serious obligation to blog on a fairly regular basis. I enjoy it; its an outlet. So why have I not posted anything in a week and a half? I just don't have much to say, I guess.
What's going on here? HMMMM let me see. We are waiting to hear if my oldest has been accepted into the college of his choice. Letters will be sent out on the 15th of this month. Child #2 is busy with school work and has pep band about 2 nights per week. Also, she has a terrible fear of driving. She MUST! She MUST! She has zero confidence in herself and is afraid she will kill someone. What shall we do with her?
Child #3 got cast in a community theatre play which will deliver its performances the first weekend in March. This means from now until then we will be driving to rehearsals and performances 34 times. I'm tired already. By the way, he turns 13 next week which means I will have 3 teenagers in the house!!
Finally, child #4, my little spitfire, has a history of eye problems. We had an appointment today and it looks like we will be playing pirate with an eye patch again for a few weeks to see if we can get her lazy eye in check.
Also, sometime this week, we will be adopting a new dog. I still don't know exactly how this happened. Apparently a friend of my colleague has a mother who is moving into an assisted living situation and needs a home for her bichon or it will have to go to the Humane Society. (You know what can happen there.) Anyway, I'm not really a "dog person". I wouldn't swerve to hit one, mind you, but I just am not completely crazy about dogs. This will be our 3rd. At least none of our dogs will shed and that is of utmost importance to me. We had a German Shepard for several years. He was my husband's police K-9 and I promise you I vaccuumed (sp) at least 2 times per day. Hair was everywhere so I vowed not to have anymore shedders. We should be getting Gigi this week sometime. Just what I need, a little more action!

Foiled again

Alas, the wintry weather of NE Iowa has once again foiled my plans of spending Christmas with my family. Tuesday we had planned to visit my hubby's family near Des Moines but stayed home due to threatening weather. Now today, a long awaited trip to my sister's cabin to visit with family once again was thwarted by freezing rain, sleet and the possibility of snow. More time to spend with my children and husband which I don't get enough of. We have all had the week off but we thought with all the traveling we would be doing we would feel like we were on the run. God must have heard my worries since we got shut down in every attempt. Oh well, I can't say I mind. I love to be home and I feel like I'm getting some things done.

a sink with a view

A fellow blogging buddy, Little Sister, asked us to post a picture of what we see when we are at the kitchen sink. My hubby took this picture this morning as the sun was rising. Isn't it beautiful? It is not uncommon to see deer back there among other forms of wildlife. That's why I keep a pair of binoculars close by.

I've been tagged

OOOOOOOOO!! I'm so excited! My first tag! Thanks Mikey!! Here goes.....

1. Five names you go by
a) Janice
b) Jan
c) Mrs. H....
d) "Insert my kid's names here" 's mom
e) Mom

2. Three things you are wearing right now
a) black patent leather shoes
b) black quilted vest
c) long sleeved T shirt (this isn't all I'm wearing though)

3. Two things you want very badly right now
a) Resolution to some family drama
b) Lose some weight

4) Three people who will probably fill this out
Can't answer this one. No one reads my blog

5) Two things I did last night
a) Went to bed early
b) Did some Sudoku puzzles

6) Two things I ate today
a) Cheerios
b) Ham/cheese/mushroom omelette

7) Two people I last talked to on the phone
a) My son, Lucas
b) My friend, Kristi

8) Two things I am going to do tomorrow
a) Work
b) Attend 2 orchestra concerts, one at 7 pm one at 8 pm

9) Two longest car rides
a) Iowa to New Jersey
b) Iowa to California

10) My two favorite beverages
a) a good cup of strong, black coffee
b) diet pepsi

That was fun!!

I'm thankful for.....

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving which, to me, hails in the busyness of the Christmas season. It is after tomorrow that I shudder to think of even driving close to the mall or Super Target. It scares me.
Each Thanksgiving I hand out simple Thank You notes to my husband and kids and we all write 5 things we are grateful for. I don't allow the older ones to write simple, one word things. I want them to work at this, to quiet down for a minute and be specific about the blessings they have.
This is what I think I will write this year.

(1) I'm thankful that I was able to spend time with my dad just the weekend before he died. I hadn't planned to go there, it was just a spur of the moment thing. I'm glad I hugged him when I left.
(2) On the way home that day my sister and I drove through the storm that generated the F5 tornado that hit communities just 20 miles from my house killing, 8 people. I'm thankful for God's protection that evening.
(3) Just 2 weeks after the tornado struck, our community was hit with an unprecedented flood. Many, many people lost their homes and belongings and their sense of security. I lost nothing in the flood except for a few days of work. For that, I am thankful.
(4) I'm thankful for God's mercy and comfort as I heal from the sudden loss of my dad. I can't explain how difficult it has been. I miss him terribly.
(5) Finally, I can't not include these goofy, loud, precious children the Lord has entrusted to me and my husband. It is an honor to be their mother and I love (almost) everything about them. I cannot talk about them without mentioning their amazing father. My husband has put up with me for nearly 19 years and I'm sure there have been many times he would have loved to bail on me but toughed it out instead. He is a man of unquestionable integrity and faith. He is my biggest earthly blessing.

I want to encourage any one reading this (if anyone does read this:)) to slow down and be thankful, at least for tomorrow.

Has it started already?

Here it is, November 14th and dare I say that the holiday rush has started already? All is crazy in this part of Iowa, in this little house on the prairie.
Last Friday night we hosted about 11 couples from our Sunday School class for a game night. We lit a fire and justed enjoyed good conversation and, of course, LOTS of food.
Tonight I have signed up to participate in a progressive dinner given for the college students that attend our church. While I LOVE hosting people in our home and I love making desserts I failed to remember the "time change" that exists between college students and "real people". I should have figured this out when the college gal organizing all this called to talk to me at 10:15 PM. I am NOT a night person. I am in bed or wanting to be in bed by 9 pm and my productivity decreases steadily from about 4 pm on. I figured the kids would arrive here around 8 pm and I envisioned myself snug in my bed by 10. NOT. Turns out they aren't even planning to get here until 10:15 pm. I should have thought this whole thing through and volunteered for appetizers.
Tomorrow my daughter marches in the Veterans Day Parade. That evening Bob and I will be going to a steak house with a few other couples to get fat and greasy.
Sunday evening we are providing snacks for 40 high school kids from our Youth Group.
Monday evening we are headed to the UNIDOME to cheer on our hometown Vikings in the state playoffs. I am hoping to run into the Cheesecake Maven if I'm lucky.
Next Thursday the children of some dear friends of ours are spending the night at our place. They are 1 and 3. I'm scared. Every time the 1 year old has been here, he's cried the entire time. I will be spending ALL DAY Friday alone with them. Why does that scare me? I've raised 4 children of my own. I work with convicted felons on a daily basis. How bad will it be to tackle these two angels. I'll have to get back with you on that one.
I am looking forward to hosting my inlaws and some friends for Thanksgiving. Bob grills a turkey on the Weber grill. It is THE BEST. I don't know why we only do it once per year.
As you can see, I'm busy, just like all of you, and I'm fearing December will not be much better.